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The nation's culture minister has threatened to axe funding for the national cinema honors after The Sea, a story about a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, won its highest honor.

The film, which chronicles a boy from the disputed Palestinian territories who wants to journey to Tel Aviv to experience the sea for the first time, won top cinematic prize at the Ophir Awards.

“No deeper slap in the face to the people of Israel than the shameful and detached yearly film ceremony event.”

By taking the prize of the top honor award at the national ceremony, The Award-Winning Film now becomes the country's entry to the global cinema category at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Uncertainty Over Funding Threat

Remains uncertain whether the minister has the authority to defund the ceremony, as reported by domestic news outlets.

Stars of The Sea also received other major prizes at the event, including teenage Muhammad Gazawi who won the leading performer honor—the youngest ever recipient.

Plot Overview

In the film, the actor portrays 12-year-old Khaled who is refused access to Israel at an IDF security post during a class trip to the coastal city.

The character then sneaks into the nation and attempts to reach the beach while his parent, an undocumented labourer in the country, tries to find him.

“This film is about the universal right to live in peace, a basic right we will not give up on.”

Government Reaction

However, in his statement, the Culture Minister labeled the Ophir Awards as “embarrassing and disconnected”.

The minister continued: “During my tenure, Israeli citizens won’t contribute financially for a ceremony that shows disrespect of our heroic soldiers.”

Film Community Reaction

Responding to the minister's statements, Assaf Amir said: “Amid the ongoing war in the region takes a terrible toll in death and destruction, the ability to see the 'other'... gives small hope.”

He continued: “In the face of the state's attacks on local film, and the calls from sectors of the international film community to boycott us, the choice of this film is a powerful and clear response.”

Background Context

This follows many of Hollywood industry professionals signed a pledge promising not to work with the country's cinematic bodies that are “involved in atrocities”.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led offensive on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which approximately over a thousand people were died and 251 more were taken hostage.

At least 65,000 people have been fatally injured in military operations from that point, almost 50% of them women and children, according to Gaza's medical authorities.

Recently, a international body of inquiry said that the state had committed systematic destruction against Palestinian people in the region.

The nation's foreign ministry denied the findings and denounced it “distorted and false”.